More than a MEAL MEAL
We all remember our time in the school cafeteria It was a time for talking with friends, taking a break from learning, and enjoying a good meal You can probably still imagine and taste some of your favorite food!
We didn’t know it then, but what we were really doing was fueling our minds for the next part of the school day Students learn at their best when they have access to a healthy breakfast and lunch every day
Our Food Service Department knows that they play an instrumental role in our students’ academic success by bringing them meals that are fun, tasty, and nutritious The introduction of a yogurt bar at the high school this year is just one example of a tactic our staff is using to draw students into enjoying a healthy and delicious meal at school Cultural dishes, meals made with local produce and meats, and food that meets the state’s nutritional requirements are all ways that we are engaging students in both nutrition AND learning for free!
Food & learning is a winning combination
This past school year was packed with new Food Service programs and initiatives that made meal time fun while academically supporting our students
One way that PTS Food Service Director Dawn Kelley said she and her staff make breakfast and lunch fun is to incorporate celebrations into mealtime Students got to enjoy locally harvested apples during the Great Lakes Apple Crunch, for example They also served special meals during National School Breakfast Week, National School Lunch Week, and World School Milk Day Each celebration comes with educational materials to show the link between learning and nutrition
For Kelley, ensuring students enjoy their school meals is an important aspect of providing breakfast and lunch This year, Kelley has incorporated more opportunities for student input, and the students are benefitting from this in many ways
“We tried new recipes, got feedback from the students, and made adjustments,” Kelley said “By doing that, the students know that we care about their opinions ”
Since Kelley began gathering student opinions, she said she has received numerous emails from students who are making requests and recommendations She sees this as a great enhancement to the overall Food Service program
To even further support academics, the kitchen staff at our schools work with teachers and principals to enhance school-wide learning experiences Dr Seuss themed lunches, breakfasts celebrating the 100th day of
(1)FoodServicestaffhandoutaweekofmealstofamilies atHavenHollowParkduringtheSummerMealsProgram (2)StudentsandstaffatKyleElementaryenjoytheir annualThanksgivinglunch (3)Familiestakehome7days ofbreakfastandlunchfromtheSummerMealProgram Eachfamilyalsoreceivedagallonofmilkperchild
school, and meals themed around schools’ One School One Book were all on the menu this year Special menu items were featured throughout the year to align with cultural celebrations as well Our Central Elementary students enjoyed serving as taste testers for new Asianinspired sauces that were incorporated into lunch during Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May while our middle school students enjoyed tacos on Cinco de Mayo
These academic initiatives caught the attention of the USDA and Action for Healthy Kids, who recognized PTS with Innovation Awards for Nutrition Education and Meal Preparation The Food Service Department earned the two awards for incorporating new made-fromscratch menu items using local agricultural products and implementing nutrition education activities throughout the schools
From the farm straight to our schools
New this year was a grant from the Indiana Department of Health that led to our students trying new meals made from fresh produce and protein
Indiana Local Food for Schools brings vegetables, fruits, and meat from local small farms and ranches to area schools at no cost to the students, families, or school district Our kitchen staff at each building took the
additional fresh food items and created new recipes for students to enjoy throughout the school year
This year, students tried new, homemade meals made from local ingredients A few favorites included our maple donuts, stuffed poblano peppers, southwest salad, and granola bars, and cheeseburgers Check out the new options below and see which is your favorite
The program went so well that our grant has been renewed for another year! Our staff is ready and excited to introduce even more new recipes into each of our school cafeterias
Free Meals for All
The Food Service department was proud to offer all students breakfast and lunch every day at no cost to our families The Free Meals for All program was so successful that we ’ re bringing it back in 2024-2025!
TAKE YOUR PICK TAKE YOUR PICK
SWEET wholegrain donuts with a maple syrup icing
The maple syrup is fresh and shipped to us from a local farm that produces it during peak season
(1)CityofPortage MayorAustinBonta servesbreakfasttoour CrismanElementary students (2)OurKyle Elementarykitchenstaff welcomesstudentsto takepartintheGreat LakesAppleCrunch (3)OurPortageHigh Schoolstudentsbuild theirownbowlofyogurt andtoppingsatour brand-newyogurtbar.
The purpose of the program has been to ensure all of our students have access to breakfast and lunch every school day without worrying about the cost of the meal
This past year, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of students who ate breakfast and/or lunch with us Over 1 25 million meals were served this year, up from just over 900,000 the previous year; that’s a difference of nearly 200,000 meals in just one year!
What do those numbers mean? They mean that more students could focus on learning instead of being hungry Families could save money on rising grocery costs by having their children eat breakfast and lunch at school There were no worries over forgotten lunch bags, empty lunch accounts, or student meal debt Just happy, healthy, and fed students!
The Food Service Department is ready for another successful school year with Free Meals for All!
OurstaffcreatedyummymealsandsnacksfromtheLocal FoodforSchoolsprogram!Whichonewouldyouchoose?
Our Taco Tuesday salad featuring locally grown lettuce, fresh local chicken, black beans, cheese, and a chipotle ranch salad dressing
A fresh and yummy cheeseburger! An all-beef hamburger, provided by a local rancher, is topped with American cheese and fresh produce from local farms
The LOVE-ly Valentine’s Day granola bars. Oatmeal and chocolate chips are mixed together with locally grown honey from right here in Indiana 1 2 3
Delicious stuffed poblano peppers
These locally farmed peppers are filled with locally sourced beef and vegetables, topped with melted cheese
Portage Township Schools
6240US Highway6
Portage,IN46368
Manufacturing and healthcare career opportunities are available right here in Northwest Indiana, and, thanks to community partnerships, our Portage High School students get to explore the pathways that will lead them towards those very careers
Organized in collaboration with the Portage Economic Development Corporation, Manufacturing360 and Healthcare360 showcase our local manufacturers and healthcare facilities During each trip, students learn about the careers available in each field, the education that is required for their chosen career, and how they can start working towards their career while they’re still in high school
LEFT:StudentsexploretheSurgicalTech labatIvyTechinValparaisotolearn abouttherolesandresponsibilitiesofa surgicaltechnician
ABOVE:Studentsoperatetheexcavation simulatorduringtheirtriptothe ConstructionAdvancementFoundation
This year ’ s Manufacturing360 trip took students to three locations: the Construction Advancement Foundation, the local Sheetmetal Workers’ Union, and an active job site through Superior Construction
Our Healthcare360 students went to Ivy Tech in Valparaiso to attend a variety of experiences with Northwest Health, Community Healthcare System, and Ivy Tech instructors Our students left with opportunities for furthering their education during and after high school
Semester 1 Calendar Dates Semester 1 Calendar Dates
August14: FirstDayofSchool September2: LaborDay(NoSchool) October16: EndofQuarter1
October17: RecordsDay(NoSchool)
October18: FallBreak(NoSchool
November4: Conferences(NoSchool)
November5: Elections(E-Learning)
November27-29: Thanksgiving(NoSchool)
December20: EndofSemester1
December23-January3: HolidayBreak(NoSchool)
January6: RecordsDay(NoSchool)
January7: Semester2Begins
For a complete list of the 2024-2025 calendar dates, visit our website at www.portage.k12.in.us/calendar
ONTHECOVER
OurCentral Elementary studentsweretaste testersforaday!
OurFoodService staffaskedthe studentstotryand givefeedbackon newAsian-inspired saucestobeused atlunch
